Bischofite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Bischofite
Formula:
MgCl2 · 6H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
1.591 - 1.604
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For Karl Gustav Bischof (1792-1870), German geologist and mineral chemist, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, and for F. Bischof, director of the Stassfurt salt works
A relatively rare constituent of saline deposits. Secondary in origin in part. Formed by alteration of Carnallite by water.
Deliquescent and soluble in water.
Deliquescent and soluble in water.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
681
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:681:5
IMA Classification of Bischofite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Bischofite
3.BB.15
3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
9.2.9.1
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
8.4.3
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and Mg
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bsf | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Bischofite
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
1.591 - 1.604 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.5895 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Bischofite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.495 nβ = 1.507 nγ = 1.528
2V:
Measured: 79° , Calculated: 76°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.033
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r > v, weak
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Y ∧ c = 9.5°.
Chemistry of Bischofite
Mindat Formula:
MgCl2 · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ca,S
Crystallography of Bischofite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.8607 Å, b = 7.1071 Å, c = 6.0737 Å
β = 93.758°
β = 93.758°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.387 : 1 : 0.855
Unit Cell V:
424.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic along [001]; commonly foliated, fibrous, crystalline granular, also massive
Twinning:
May twin polysynthetically under pressure
Comment:
synthetic material
Crystallographic forms of Bischofite
Crystal Atlas:
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Bischofite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Bischofite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010001 | Bischofite | Agron P A, Busing W R (1985) Magnesium dichloride hexahydrate, MgCl2*6H2O, by neutron diffraction Acta Crystallographica C41 8-10 |  | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0018111 | Bischofite | Andress K, Gundermann J (1934) Die Struktur von Magnesiumchlorid- und Magnesiumbromidhexahydrat. _cod_database_code 1011249 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 87 345-369 | 1934 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.095 Å | (100) |
| 2.646 Å | (69) |
| 2.880 Å | (58) |
| 2.732 Å | (39) |
| 2.305 Å | (39) |
| 2.228 Å | (27) |
| 3.553 Å | (26) |
Comments:
Recorded on synthetic material
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Geological Setting:
In saline deposits; probably in part formed from carnallite
Type Occurrence of Bischofite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bischofite
Other Language Names for Bischofite
Dutch:Bischofiet
German:Bischofit
Russian:Бишофит
Simplified Chinese:水氯镁石
Spanish:Bischofita
Traditional Chinese:水氯鎂石
Varieties of Bischofite
| Brom-bischofite | Artificial Bromine analogue of Bischofite |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.BB. | Králíkite | BaCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.05 | Eriochalcite | CuCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.10 | Rokühnite | FeCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.20 | Nickelbischofite | NiCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.25 | Sinjarite | CaCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.30 | Antarcticite | CaCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.35 | Tachyhydrite | CaMg2Cl6 · 12H2O |
| 3.BB.35 | Aravaipaite | Pb3AlF9 · H2O |
| 3.BB.40 | Ghiaraite | CaCl2 · 4H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in alcohol and in water.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Deliquescent.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Bischofite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-681.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Bischofite
Reference List:
Sorrell, Charles A.; Ramey, Roy R. (1974) X-ray powder data and unit cell parameters of MgCl2.6H2O. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 19 (1). 31-32 doi:10.1021/je60060a023
Localities for Bischofite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Asia | |
| Crétaux et al. (2009) | |
Australia | |
| Simpson (1948) |
Belarus | |
| USGS MRDS database potash: ... |
Canada | |
| Shang (2000) |
| King et al. (1993) |
China | |
| Sun Da-peng et al. (2002) |
| Shaoxiu (1991) |
| Xiyu Zheng (1994) | |
| Dongsheng Hu (1990) +1 other reference |
| Botao Li et al. (2010) | |
| Shaoxiu (1991) | |
| Shaoxiu (1991) +1 other reference |
| Shaoxiu (1991) +1 other reference |
| Wang et al. (2023) |
| Bingxiao (1992) |
Czech Republic | |
| Matýsek et al. (2014) |
Ethiopia | |
| Hovland et al. (2018) |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" ... |
| George Graf collection |
| Anthony (1997) |
| Brockt et al. (2001) |
| Dana 6:A3:14 +2 other references |
| Ochsenius (1877) +1 other reference | |
| ... | |
| XRD analysis (T. Witzke) |
Hungary | |
| |
Italy | |
| Russo et al. (2004) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) +1 other reference |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov (1998) +2 other references |
| Pekov et al. (1993) +2 other references |
Netherlands | |
| T.G. Nijland |
| Pichat (2022) | |
Peru | |
| P. Andresen collection |
Poland | |
| Jirásek +7 other references |
| Kruszewski (2012) |
Republic of the Congo | |
| Zhao et al. (2016) |
| Henry Rauche (2009) | |
| Milesi et al. (2006) | |
Russia | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Vergasova L P et al. (1996) |
| Chaykovsky et al. (2015) |
Ukraine | |
| Geologiya SSSR. Poleznye iskopaemye (The geology of USSR. Commercial mineral) |
USA | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Hawley +5 other references |
| 2008 New Mexico Mineral Symposium ... |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) |
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Beienrode potash mine, Beienrode, Königslutter am Elm, Helmstedt District, Lower Saxony, Germany